Community Action Derby is very pleased and proud to say that we have successfully achieved REACH status. REACH is the only quality standard in the UK focusing on Youth Volunteering.  It's similar to Investing in Volunteers, another volunteering focused quality standard which we successfully achieved in May 09. 
 
REACH is the Youth Action Network's quality system for youth volunteering agencies.  Organisations self-assess and submit evidence of their practice within a range of indicators and areas including safety, induction, support, networking, and partnership.
 
Community Action Derby built REACH into the team work plan, assessed the current policies and procedures, made necessary changes and successfully submitted three indicators (and achieved them) to Youth Action Network per quarter.   
 
This award is something to be proud about and it further shows our attitude and professionalism when it comes to involving volunteers, particularly those younger volunteers from whom we can learn so much from.
 
For more details contact Simon Hancox, Youth Volunteer Development Manager at Community Action Derby on 01332 227718 or email 
 

 

UnLtd is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs - people with vision, drive, commitment and passion who want to change the world for the better. By providing a complete package of funding and support UnLtd help these individuals make their ideas a reality.

 

You
Are you an established social entrepreneur with a track record of finding solutions to pressing social problems?
Have you a team of people supporting you?
Are you working on tackling a clearly identified social problem?
 
Your project
Is your project up and running delivering social impact?
Can you prove your project activities are delivering social benefit?
Are you looking to spend more time on developing your project so that it can grow and develop?
 
Your need
Do you need £15,000 to use for your living expenses so that you can spend more time developing your project?
Do you need practical help and support to take your project to a sustainable level?
 
An UnLtd Level 2 Award
If the answer to these questions is yes an UnLtd Level 2 Award may be what you are looking for. UnLtd are inviting expressions of interest for the autumn round of their competition. Expression of interest forms are available online from Friday 28 August to Monday 21 September. For further information please click here
 

Ecominds is an open grant programme run by Mind as an award partner of the Big Lottery Fund. The programme has £7.5 million to distribute to around 125 new and existing projects focusing on mental health and the environment around England over the next five years.

 

Ecominds aims to help people with direct experience of mental distress become involved in environmental projects that improve mental and physical health and local communities. There is growing evidence demonstrating that green exercise provides substantial benefits for health and wellbeing.

 

If your organisation is looking for funding for projects combining mental health and the environment then this could be the funding programme for you. Examples of the types of projects eligible for funding are:

 
Community horticultural and agricultural projects; 
Walking and rambling groups; 
Wildlife habitat or other site creation or renovation; 
Clearing open spaces for community use; 
Creating or renovating urban green areas; 

Recycling projects; and 

Producing artwork in public places and in enclosed spaces.

 

For further information, a full list of qualifying criteria and an application form please click here 

 

Family Action are holding two half day learning workshops for commissioners and voluntary sector providers to share their experiences and perspectives on tendering processes.

 

The workshops will give an opportunity to understand the process from both a commissioner's and a provider's perspective; promote good working relationships between commissioners and voluntary sector providers; and aim to ensure that future tendering processes are efficient, effective, fair transparent and achieve value for money.

 

Who should attend?

Voluntary sector organisations with some experience of tendering processes, or who expect to be in a position to bid for children and young people's service contracts in the next few years; or

Commissioners of children and young people's services with some experience of tendering processes, or who are likely to be involved in tendering processes in the next few years.

 

The half day workshops take place on:

Monday 17 September 12:15 to 4::00 pm OR

Friday 11 September 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

at St James Centre, Malcolm Street, Derby.

 

To book your place at either of the workshop please email  or telephone Jana Pavova at Family Action on 01332 604115.

The programme of events for Derby Festé 2009, taking place from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September celebrating Derby's Cathedral Quarter, has been announced.
 
Derby Festé is becoming a central event in Derby's cultural calendar, bringing the whole city out on the streets for three days of fantastic events.
 
Organised by several of Derby's key arts organisations - Déda, QUAD and Derby LIVE with sinfonia ViVA and Derby Jazz, the line up includes a parade, salsa dancing, a ceilidh, jazz and classical music performances as well as a picnic and a table tennis tournament. For a full listing of events please click here 
 

 

Derby City Council are conducting a survey about the availability and quality of BME infrastructure support in Derby and want YOUR views. Your comments are important in contributing to establishing a strong and vibrant BME voluntary and community sector in Derby.
 
The survey runs from August 2009 to the end of October 2009. To take part in the survey please email Vivene McCalla.

 

 

Are you a community group based in Derby?
Do you need funding for a project or for running costs?
Has your voluntary or community group been registered for a year?

Did you have an income of less than £30,000 last year?

 

If so you are eligible to apply for a Grassroots Grant being administered by Derbyshire Community Foundation (DCF). 
Grassroots Grants can be awarded for up to £5,000 towards capital items or revenue costs. To be considered for the next round of grants in October and November applications must be received by 11 September and 23 October respectively.

 
For further information and an application form please click here or telephone 01773 514850. 
 

The Awards for Bridging Cultures (ABCs) were founded in 2008. Funded by the Baring Foundation, the awards reward grassroots schemes and projects, run by community and voluntary organisations that help to build bridges between communities and cultures. 

Categories of Awards for Bridging Cultures include:

Voluntary or community groups or organisations running projects/schemes to promote intercultural dialogue with gross annual financial income of over £500,000; and

 

Voluntary or community groups or organisations running projects/schemes to promote intercultural dialogue with gross annual financial income of under £500,000;

 

Winners in the voluntary and community categories receive £10,000 plus digital recording and editing equipment, runners-up receive £5,000 plus digital recording and editing equipment.

To download an application form please click here. If you have any queries please telephone 02476 795768.

 

Please note that the deadline for receipt of all applications is 5:00 pm on Monday 14 September 2009.
 

One East Midlands is holding a conference to bring together the third sector and partners that co-ordinate volunteering in the East Midlands.

 

The conference is an opportunity for One East Midlands' members together with funders and policy makers to look at how the current focus on volunteering in the economic downturn can be turned into a long term gain for the sector.

 

There are only a few places left at the conference which takes place on Wednesday 9 September 2009 at the Hallmark Hotel, Derby. The conference will feature speakers and a range of interesting workshops that will focus on many aspects of volunteering.

 

To book your place please email or telephone 0115 934 8471.
 

Do you work with children and young people or vulnerable adults?

Do you know that a completely new vetting and barring scheme will be introduced from October 2009?

Are you prepared for the changes?

 

Come along to this FREE information event on 29 September and find out more. The event takes place at Jobs, Education and Training, 284 - 286 Normanton Road, Derby from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm (free lunch provided!).
 
The event will provide essential information on new safeguarding policy for employers, employees and volunteers including information on the new Independent Safeguarding Authority.
 
For further information and to book your place please email or telephone Alice James on 0845 3730645.

 

Places are limited to 30 delegates. The training is free of charge, but no-shows or cancellations made after three weeks prior to the event will incur a £40 charge to cover administration and catering costs.